Hammersley Wild Area Backpack, PA

Photos by Michael Juskelis, 2009/07/11-13.

Part of the hike in involved an easy plateau walk through a thin forest with a lush understory of ferns and ripe blueberries.

A view of "The Pool", looking upstream from our campsite.

... and downstream.

Hammersley Fork during our day hike.

Taking a shortcut along a gas line right of way.

Teresa takes in the view from the Twin Sisters Trail.

Dick cools down after the day hike.

This clearing is the result of a huge forest fire in 1964.

There are probably more views up on that ridge line!

Flora:

Nipplewort (Lapsana communis), at camp and along the trail.

A species of Agrimony was growing like a flower bed at "The Pool".

An unidentified mint-family plant, found growing on the moist banks of Elk Run.

Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica), found growing on an old stone bridge abutment. It contains an aspirin type compound. Poultices of its leaves were used in the past to relieve pain.

St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum), found in the beaver meadows and other open places.

Whorled Loosestrife (Lysimachia quadrifolia) was spotted near the end of the pipeline right of way.

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) grew along the Twin Sisters Trail in the 1964 forest fire area.

More information about Hammersley Wild Area, PA: